When the Bible mentions historical facts, alludes to science, or predicts the future, its accuracy gives evidence that it is a book you can trust. What would you expect from a cookbook? You certainly would not want a collection of original recipes written by a chef whose greatest culinary achievement was pouring milk on a bowl of breakfast cereal. You would expect the author to have proven cooking skills and be able to give accurate measurements and exact cooking times. You would also expect the ingredients to be tasty and nutritious.
What, then, should we expect from a book that claims to be the written record of the word and works of God and His relationship with mankind? We have every right to expect this book to meet the highest standards of accuracy.
Did the Bible writers know what they were talking about? Can the history, science, and prophecy of the Bible be trusted?
In a book where the history of man and the revelation of God are so intertwined, if we have doubts concerning what it says about man and his world, we will also have a right to doubt what it says about God. If part of the Bible were to be proven wrong, then the rest of it would be suspect. However, the Bible has proven itself to be reliable in history, science, and fulfilled prophecy. Its record is accurate and trustworthy.
6. ITS ACCURACY IN HISTORY. The Bible claims to present an accurate record of the real history of man. The Old and New Testaments are filled with references to specific people, places, and events. The biblical world is not a world of make-believe. The events of the Bible took place in our world with people like you and me.
The serious challenges to the historical accuracy of the Bible are being answered by the work of archeologists. They are uncovering more and more evidence to verify the historical record of the Bible.
For example, the Old Testament mentioned a people known as the Hittites nearly 50 times. But for centuries, those who studied the ancient world questioned the Bible because they had discovered no evidence of such a people. In 1906, however, the Hittite capital was uncovered about 90 miles east of Ankara, the capital of Turkey.
As time goes on, the questions of the critics are being answered by reliable scholarship and the findings of the archeologist's spade. Nelson Glueck, a Jewish archeologist, said, "It may be stated categorically that no archeological discovery has ever controverted a biblical reference" (Rivers in the Desert: History of Neteg, p.31).
The discoveries not long ago of tablets in the ancient city of Ebla in northern Syria has brought to light a wealth of historical material that supports the biblical record. An article in Time magazine reported, "Their discovery does more than provide documentary evidence of a little known kingdom that existed between 2400 and 2250 BC; it also provides the best evidence to date that some of the people described In the Old Testament actually existed" (October 18, 1976, p.63).
The New Testament record is also supported by research and discovery. The Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts (both written by Luke) have gained the respect of scholars who have investigated their numerous references to people and places in the Jewish and Roman worlds. Concerning Luke, F. F. Bruce has written, "A man whose accuracy can be demonstrated in matters where we are able to test it is likely to be accurate even when mears of testing him are not available" (The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable? p.90).
So the believability of the New Testament in matters of our physical world lends credibility to what it says about the spiritual world. John Warwick Montgomery has written, "What, then, does a historian know about Jesus Christ? He knows, first and foremost, that the New Testament documents can be relied upon to give an accurate portrait of Him. And he knows that this portrait cannot be rationalized away by wishful thinking, philosophical presuppositionalism, or literary maneuvering" (History and Christianity, p.40).
7. ITS ACCURACY IN SCIENCE. Do the Bible and science conflict? Do we have to make a choice whether we are going to live by either religious faith or scientific data? From the way some people talk you might think there is a legitimate choice. But there is not. The apparent conflicts result from unjustified conclusions made on both sides - either by those who go beyond the limits of proper Bible interpretation or by those who go beyond the limits of science to equate theory with fact.
Debate arose in Galileo's time because some religious leaders foolishly spoke out on a matter of science and said that the earth was the center of the solar system. And conflict still exists today on matters of science. One group uses scientific data to conclude dogmatically that all of life is the result of an evolutionary process that began with the most elemental forms of life. Others interpret the data differently to say that the complexity of life as we see it today could only have been the result of divine creation. Those who deny miracles are at odds with those who say that the miracles recorded in the Bible actually happened. This is because people who deny God reject the view of those who believe in a supernatural God who at times intervened in the affairs of men.
The heart of the apparent conflict between science and the Bible is not the actual data; it is in the underlying beliefs of the two sides and their conclusions. The information is the same for both.
The Bible is not a science textbook. It often uses figures of speech to describe facets of life that science would explain in different terms. For example, it speaks of the sun setting and of the four corners of the earth. Scientists, of course, would not accept these statements as accurate. But they were never meant to be taken literally. When the Bible does speak directly about matters of science, however, it speaks correctly.
In the final analysis, the Bible and science are in perfect agreement. The God who created the universe and set in motion the laws that govern our world is the same God who inspired the Bible. He is the God of truth and does not contradict Himself. Therefore, when the Bible is interpreted correctly and science arrives at proven conclusions, they will be in perfect agreement.
8. ITS ACCURACY IN PROPHECY. What would you think of a doctor who had told you that you would never have any heart problems, and then you suffered a heart attack as you walked out of his office? What would be your opinion of a politician who promised economic prosperity, but whose policies actually led to a serious depression? You would have a legitimate reason to doubt what they said about the future. You might wonder whom you could believe.
The Bible is not like that. The Word of God has proven that it can be trusted. It has never been wrong in its diagnosis of man's ills. It has never made false promises. It has never given man reason to think it is a collection of fables and lies.
One clear confirmation of its reliability is the accuracy of its prophecy. The Bible itself offers the standards by which to test those who claim to speak authoritatively about the future. It says in Deuteronomy 18:20-22 that the test of a prophet's authority is the accuracy of his predictions. The Bible contains hundreds of prophecies, so we can measure it by its own test.
Some of the most dramatic examples of fulfilled Bible prophecy are those concerning Jesus Christ. Isaiah 52:13 through 53:12 and Psalm 22, for instance, record specific details about death by crucifixion hundreds of years before this terrible form of execution was ever practiced.
Another example of fulfilled prophecy was the destruction of the city of Tyre. Hundreds of years before, Ezekiel had predicted that the city would be destroyed and the ruins scraped off and dumped into the sea, never to be rebuilt (Ezekiel 26). It happened exactly as predicted. First Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the city, then Alexander had his men use the ruins to build a causeway out to an offshore island where the people had fled. That causeway may still be seen today as a silent witness to the accuracy of Bible prophecy.
Daniel accurately predicted the succession of four great world powers: Babylonia, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome (Daniel 2 and 7).
The predictions of the judgment of God against Nineveh (Nahum 1-3), Ammon and Moab (Jeremiah 48-49), Babylon (Isaiah 13-14; Jeremiah 51), and Edom (Isaiah 34; Jeremiah 49; Ezekiel 25, 35) were all fulfilled as prophesied.
Whenever the Bible speaks prophetically, therefore, it is accurate. Hundreds of prophecies have been literally fulfilled. On this basis, we can also believe what the Bible has to say about things to come. It has already proven itself!
ITS PROFOUND IMPACT
The Bible has also proven itself trustworthy in its impact on societies and on individuals. Its power to change lives is seen wherever it has been taken by messengers of the gospel. The Bible is called the "word of life" (Philippians 2:16). Its message is the gospel, which it calls "the power of God to salvation" (Romans 1:16). And it refers to itself as the "living and powerful" Word of God (Hebrews 4:12). It's one thing to claim to be living and powerful; it's quite another to live up to it.
9. ITS IMPACT ON SOCIETY. Wherever the Bible has been taken and its message accepted, it has profoundly affected the culture into which it was brought. When an honest investigation is made, it becomes evident that the Bible has been instrumental in bringing about higher morality, social change, improved living conditions, and a better life. In lands where slavery was practiced, the power of the Word of God brought conviction of the wrong and emancipation for those in bondage. In places where women were treated little better than animals, the preaching of the gospel brought them new respect and freedom from tyranny and debasement. In areas where cruelty and severe oppression were common, the coming of the Bible brought kindness, toleration, and humane treatment. The plight of children and the handicapped, who were sometimes shamefully mistreated, improved greatly when the Bible came and its truth was accepted.
When the Bible is received, the aspirations and the spirits of men are lifted. Try to imagine what would have happened to mankind without the high view of the Bible. Take away its teaching about human dignity and individual worth, and see what is left. Eliminate the moral impact of the great preachers and Christian reformers, and consider the plight the world would be in. Remove from our art galleries the paintings inspired by Jesus Christ, take down from our library shelves the books that find their inspiration and theme in the Scriptures; empty the world of the lofty oratorios and uplifting music of the church; eliminate from the cities and villages of the earth the magnificent cathedrals and little white frame church buildings that have been centers of hope and peace for troubled lives down through the ages. Take it all away, and what is left? A Milton without a poem; a Michelangelo without a theme; a Dante without a vision; a Handel without inspiration; a Whitefield without a sermon.
Or take from mankind the high moral code of the Bible. What happens to our laws, our police, and our judges? What happens to the weak, the defenseless, the downtrodden, the lonely, and the despairing? One shudders to think of the tribulation that would fall upon our world. One trembles at the heartlessness, the cruelty, the deprivation of an unrestrained mankind.
Yes, the Bible has made a profound impact on society. That is undeniable.
10. ITS IMPACT ON INDIVIDUALS. Not only has the Bible had an impact on society, it has also changed individuals. Despairing, helpless, wicked men and women on the brink of madness have found rescue in hearing and believing the message of the Bible. It has provided new hope to the despondent. It has brought quiet peace to the restless. It has led lowly people to greatness. It has raised morality to its highest levels. It has worked amazing deliverance and change for millions.
Think of Augustine, brilliant scholar of the fourth and fifth centuries. Although his godly mother prayed for him, he used his intellect and energies to live in wicked indulgence. But he could not find peace. So he began a long period of searching and intense self-examination. Tortured and driven, he continued his quest until he read these words in the Bible: "Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in licentiousness and lewdness, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts" (Romans 13:13-14). Augustine later wrote about his response to this passage: "No further would I read; nor needed I. For instantly at the end of this sentence, by a fight as it were of serenity infused into my heart, all the darkness of doubt vanished away." This former drunkard eventually became the bishop of Hippo in northern Africa, founded the first monastery in that region, and influenced much of Christian thought by his brilliant writing.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon vainly searched for peace until he heard this verse quoted by a country preacher: "Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other" (Isaiah 45:22).
Martin Luther found deliverance for his sin and the spark that ignited the Protestant Reformation when he read these words: "The just shall live by his faith'' (Habakkuk 2:4).
Chuck Colson, convicted Watergate conspirator, came to the truth through the faithful witness and clear teaching of the Bible by some of his friends. He now directs a ministry for prisoners, and his book Born Again has influenced many who were trapped by the consequences of their own behavior.
These stories could be repeated hundreds of thousands of times by people of all ages and from all walks of life who have had the deepest needs of their lives met by the power of the Bible. And friend, it can do the same for you if you will open your heart to its message and believe.
HOW WE GOT OUR BIBLE
What determined which books belong in the Bible? How did we end up with 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 books in the New Testament? These questions are answered in a discussion of the "canon of Scripture." The word "canon" means "a measuring device" or "a standard."
Out of the many religious writings that have been circulated, only 66 books were accepted as inspired by God. While some were recognized immediately as authentic, it took some time for others to be endorsed as Scripture. Throughout the process, however, the canon of Scripture was being determined by God, not by man.
THE OLD TESTAMENT. The writings of Moses and the book of Joshua were immediately accepted as Scripture (Exodus 24:3; Joshua 24:26). The remaining books were tested by the following principles:
1. Authorship by a recognized prophet of God or leader in Israel.
2. Internal evidence of its inspiration and authority. The reader was able to recognize it as unique in communicating the revelation of God.
3. Writings containing obvious doctrinal and factual errors were eliminated. Books accepted by the community that received them were given priority consideration.
4. Further validation was given to certain Old Testament books when they were quoted from by Christ or the New Testament writers and referred to as Scripture.
The 12 books of the Apocrypha were not accepted as part of the biblical canon for these reasons:
* They appeared in no Hebrew canon.
* None were quoted in the New Testament.
* They were not included in any early lists.
* Their content was too mythological.
"The church no more gave us the New Testament canon than Sir Isaac Newton gave us the force of gravity. God gave us gravity by His work of creation, and similarly He gave us the New Testament canon by inspiring the original books that make it up."
- J. l. Packer, God Speaks to Man
THE NEW TESTAMENT. The acceptance of the New Testament books was based on the test of apostleship. They were received if they were written by an apostle, such as Peter or John, or by someone close to an apostle, such as Luke or Mark, who had apostolic authorization. We know that some false accounts of Christ's life were being distributed (Luke 1:1-4), as well as some false epistles (2 Thessalonians 2:2). Therefore, positive identification of the New Testament books was necessary.
The church fathers supported the inspiration of the New Testament canon and carefully identified and eliminated questionable works. The Councils of Hippo (AD 393) and Carthage (AD 397) accepted the 27 books that now appear in the New Testament.
"WE TRIED TO PROVE IT WRONG"
Joan Olsen's parents were Christians, but she and her physician husband were agnostic. This led to many long discussions about the Bible between these couples. Finally, the young doctor and his wife agreed to study Christianity. Here is Dr. Viggo Olsen's account:
I implied that our study would be honest and objective, a sincere search for truth. But our agnostic bias made us begin the search in a diabolically clever way. We would prove that the Bible is not the Word of God . . . .
"First," I said [to Joan], "we will review all the agnostic arguments we heard during university and medical college years. Second, we will pick out and list the scientific mistakes in the Bible. These mistakes will prove it to be the word of men, not the Word of some infallible Creator."
The Olsens began their quest. The first question they confronted was, "Is there a God who created the universe?" An intense study led them to conclude that God does exist. But that still left them agnostic, for they weren't convinced that God could be known. They could not see the mark of the supernatural in the Bible.
"Is it even reasonable to consider that God might reveal Himself to our race?" I asked one day at dinner. "Well," Joan replied, "I just read something on that question. It made the point that we human beings are here, the only rational creatures in God's creation. It is unlikely that God created us whimsically, for no reason at all. And having made us, it is logical that God should reveal to us His reason for creating us. Also, if God loves us, He would want to tell us - love is like that."
When the Olsens looked carefully, they found that the Bible does claim to be "God's book for revealing Himself." Here is what they discovered:
The Bible . . . represents God, motivated by an eternal love, reaching down to tell us about Himself and His plan for us. . . . We also noted the remarkable unity and consistency evident in the Christian Scriptures. . . .
Contrary to our previous understanding, we found the Bible to be historically accurate. To the science of archeology the Bible owes its vindication in the matter of historical accuracy. . . .
Then there is the remarkable scientific accuracy of the Bible. Here was the exact target of the attack Joan and I had launched to disprove Christianity and Christ. . . . We encountered great difficulty, however, in finding scientific mistakes in the Bible. Again and again we were forced to cancel out seeming mistakes because of more up-to-date evidence or information.
After months of serious questioning, Dr. and Mrs. Olsen concluded that the Bible is indeed God's message to mankind. Based on this belief, they both accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior. Later, they journeyed to East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), where they have served as missionaries since 1962.
From Daktar: Diplomat in Bangladesh. Used by permission.
THINKING IT OVER
We have presented 10 reasons, 10 lines of evidence, for answering yes to the question, "Can I really trust the Bible?" On the basis of what we have pointed out, we believe the Bible is the one book you can trust.
This topic leads to a consideration of two very important questions. First, if you are a Christian, do you trust the Bible enough to put it into practice? Are you as willing to obey its commands as you are to claim its promises?
Second, if you are not a believer, what are you going to do about the Bible? You cannot be neutral about its claims. You must either accept what it says about God, Jesus Christ, and salvation, or you must reject it. We therefore urge you to believe what it says about your need to trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior. Acknowledging your sin and believing that He died to pay its penalty, ask Him to save you. The Bible says, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31). Then you will know by firsthand experience the benefit of believing the Bible - the book you can trust!
